Do you experience the performance of your computer slowing down while surfing the web? This might be due to the browser using too much RAM. So to help you enjoy the optimum performance, we are here with the ways you can use to limit RAM usage.
Modern Web browsers, including Google Chrome takes up too much memory, and it’s not unusual if a browser uses multiple gigabytes of RAM. RAM plays an important role in determining your system’s performance. The apps on the computer run the processes in the RAM. It is used to store the information being actively used by the computer to be accessed quickly.
All major browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge, store every tab, plugin, and extension in a separate RAM process. Hence, when you open your Task Manager, chrome displays multiple entries, where you will see that each process only utilizes a small amount of RAM, but if added, the load is very high.
What happens when too much Ram is used?
The speed and performance of your system depend on the amount of RAM you have. If the computer has too little RAM, it can become slow and sluggish. This is because it doesn’t have the desired storage that is required to complete its tasks. When Chrome uses more RAM to display elements quicker to you, this is a good sign, but when tabs or external plugins begin to leak memory, this causes problems. Now closing Chrome wouldn’t do the cleaning, and so a full reboot is required. Therefore, your PC gets slow and begins to act sluggish
This calls to show that with a cleared Ram space, the capability of the system enhances. Given the importance of better Ram space, it is necessary to identify ways that limit RAM usage by your browser so that you can perform all the actions uninterruptedly.
Disable unwanted Extensions
Removing unwanted Extensions will help you free up some memory. Most common browsers allow you to go to Settings through More Options (the three dots on the top right corner). There go to Extensions (Extensions & Themes in Firefox) and disable the ones you aren’t using. This is a good way to stop your browser from using too much RAM, helping the free space save you from experiencing slowed-down tasks.
Use fewer tabs at a time
You might have observed that when you open too many tabs, your system usually stops performing optimally. Hence to improve the performance of RAM, use lesser tabs at a time. An ideal approach would be to bookmark the sites on your chrome or Firefox so you can go back to them later without any hassles or performance issues.
Upgrading your RAM is the safest bet
Remember, the RAM issue is only bothersome if your RAM is limited like that is a budget laptop, as the 4GB gets used up too quickly. In cases where you have a lot of RAM, the memory Firefox, Chrome, and other browsers utilize, doesn’t even count. The good news is that you can conveniently upgrade or replace your RAM as per your requirement in a budget-friendly manner.
Use Task Manager as your guide
Use your browsers’ built-in Task Managers to identify which tabs and extensions are using the most memory. Once you find out, you can choose to quit the ones that are causing issues. Accessing the Task Manager in Chrome and Firefox is easy. Just click the More Options menu and go to More Tools which leads you to the Task Manager (Browser Task Manager in case of Edge).
Turn on the Hardware Acceleration Feature
One of the best ways to limit RAM usage is by enabling the Hardware Acceleration Feature. This will help you while loading media-heavy content, where hardware acceleration will use the GPU to load that content, setting your RAM free for other tasks.
Turning on the Hardware Acceleration Feature in different browsers is quite simple. Have a look at the following so that you can use this step in order to get some free RAM for better functionality of your system.
Hardware Acceleration in Chrome
- On the More options Menu, select Settings.
- Go to System and turn on the use hardware acceleration when available feature, and you get the answer on how to reduce Chrome memory usage.
Hardware acceleration in Edge
- On the More options Menu, select Settings.
- Go to System and turn on the use hardware acceleration when an available feature, and you can stop Microsoft Edge from using too much memory.
Hardware acceleration in Firefox
- Go on the More Options Menu and select Settings.
- Scroll down to Performance, turn on the Use recommended performance settings, or Use hardware acceleration when an available feature, and you are good to go in reducing Firefox memory usage.
- Run a virus scan
Malware can be the ultimate culprit behind excess RAM usage leading to slowing down your processes. Operating systems like macOS and Microsoft are a very pro at detecting and managing all kinds of viruses, but you never know if a bug makes its way through your system and causes the whole thing to work at a snail’s pace.
So, as soon as you suspect a virus, be prompt at running a scan with good security software to remove any threats that might be infecting the system and thus leading to the abnormal usage of the RAM.
Wrapping up
RAM makes it easier to access the information being actively used by your system, but then excessive usage will definitely add to the hours of work when you open too many tabs or forget to disable the Extensions that are not in use. Luckily all the browsers support certain steps that work in favor of limiting your RAM usage, giving you that space to perform your tasks more efficiently. You just need to use the best practices mentioned above by enabling features according to your browser’s settings. Also, if you think your computer is capable of supporting a RAM upgrade, go for it, as it will give you the autonomy to use the idle RAM to your advantage without worrying about anything else.
Lastly, be vigilant of the viruses that might invade your system and cause more damage than anticipated. Running regular scans can always help to keep your computer away from any infections and therefore save you from losing important data or slowing down processes. So start following the simple steps mentioned here and expedite the performance of your system in no time by limiting the usage of too much RAM by your browser.
